McDonough's parents tried to get her to come back to Portsmouth home: Claim murder suspect manipulated daughter

Thursday

Jan 3, 2013 at 3:15 AMJan 3, 2013 at 5:26 AM

By Samantha Allensallen@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — Kathryn “Kat” McDonough's parents insisted their daughter come home months before she became entangled in the disapearance of UNH student Elizabeth “Lizzi” Marriott.

The family's attorney, Jay Nadeau, said McDonough's mother, Denise, went to Seth Mazzaglia's apartment last March to convince her daughter to come home. Kat McDonough was 18 when she moved out and still in high school at the time.

“It is my clients', the parents', opinion that (Mazzaglia) manipulated their daughter … and (put) a barrier there, I guess, between her and her parents,” Nadeau said.

Wednesday morning, the 19-year-old suspect accused of lying to police in the Marriott investigation followed her parents to a car in the Portsmouth Circuit Court parking lot, flying by a dozen or so reporters all seeking to learn more about her relationship with Mazzaglia, the suspect in the case accused of Marriott's alleged second-degree murder. McDonough had a probable cause hearing that day for charges stemming from the incident, for allegedly lying to investigators and providing a false alibi on Oct. 12.

Mazzaglia is now 30 years old and was 29 when McDonough moved into his Dover apartment, #341 at the Sawyer Mill Apartments.

Nadeau said in a phone interview with Foster's Wednesday afternoon, McDonough's parents are greatly troubled by the criminal charges facing their daughter, but relieved to see her out on bail. McDonough faces one count of hindering apprehension or prosecution and one count of conspiracy to commit hindering apprehension or prosecution. Either one carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison.

“The whole series of events has been very troubling for them,” Nadeau explained. “From her moving out, to her coming back under these circumstances … They never wanted her to leave in the first place.”

Nadeau said some time in February 2012, when McDonough left for Mazzaglia's apartment, she left a note for her parents on her bedroom pillow saying she wouldn't come back. She was still attending Portsmouth Regional High School at that time, which she graduated from later that year. Nadeau said the move came as a shock to the family household, where the McDonoughs live across the street from grandparents in the Elwyn Park neighborhood.

“It was not contentious,” Nadeau explained. “(but) they were taken completely by surprise.”

A few weeks later, Nadeau said Denise McDonough, along with her father and sister-in-law, found out where Mazzaglia lived and went to Dover to convince their teenager to come home.

Around 10 p.m. on March 11, Dover police were called to Mazzaglia's apartment when a neighbor reported a disturbance in the hallway. Nadeau said there, Denise McDonough attempted to enter the apartment to find her daughter but Mazzaglia blocked her from entering.

“Mrs. McDonough was taken aback with that positioning because she's always had nothing but an open and loving relationship with her daughter,” Nadeau said, noting this happened while Kat McDonough's grandfather and aunt stood at the door with Denise.

According to a police report filed by Dover Police Officer Sean Kennedy, Denise McDonough understood her daughter was old enough to decide where she wanted to live, though she wished she would return to their Portsmouth home.

“Upon my arrival, I contacted the involved parties who were actively involved in conversation, but not yelling,” Kennedy wrote in his report. “… Denise said Kathryn had lied to her and she came to confront Kathryn…”

Nadeau said the pained mother and daughter sat on the floor, talking and crying, but eventually decided to part ways, especially when police arrived and ordered they have a more private conversation another time when they wouldn't disturb others.

Almost eight months later, McDonough's parents were in for an even more terrifying prospect — the possibility their daughter may serve a prison sentence, maybe for years.

Nadeau said with the Lizzi Marriott case unfolding, Kat McDonough's parents have been left in the dark on what truly happened the night of Oct. 9 — the night authorities say Marriott was murdered by Mazzaglia by either strangulation or suffocation. Foster's has learned the alleged murder occurred during a sexual encounter, but it is not known whether Marriott's involvement was voluntary.

Nadeau said McDonough's parents, Peter and Denise, who own Firefly Pottery in Portsmouth, have not been privy to any special information, while the official arrest warrant remains sealed at Dover Circuit Court and authorities remain tightlipped about their ongoing investigation.

“My clients have absolutely no idea (what happened),” Nadeau said. “They are learning as everybody else is learning when they're sitting in the courtroom.”

Kat McDonough has now returned to live with her parents, following a court order that says in addition to her $35,000 cash or corporate surety bail, she must live with her parents and be accompanied by them if she plans to go out between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“They miss and love her. They're happy to have her home, but again,” Nadeau said, “they wish it wasn't under these circumstances, if you would. It's very upsetting for (Kat).”

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